October 3, 2026 - IndiaVerve

Odisha Governor asks universities to complete faculty recruitment by November

October 3, 2026 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor and Chancellor of Universities Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati on Saturday directed vice-chancellors of state public universities to initiate recruitment for vacant teaching posts by the first week of November and complete the process by the end of the month.

Kambhampati issued the direction at a meeting on the ongoing recruitment of teaching faculty in state public universities held at New Abhishek Hall on the Lok Bhavan premises.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Higher Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabinda Agrawal, vice-chancellors and registrars of state public universities, and senior officials from the department and Lok Bhavan attended the meeting.

The Governor said filling vacant teaching posts was the next major challenge after the appointment of vice-chancellors in state universities. He recalled that vice-chancellors of 14 universities were appointed on a single day after he assumed office and said clear timelines should now be set for completing faculty recruitment.

“Merit should be the priority in the appointment of teaching faculty. Quality and merit cannot be compromised,” Kambhampati said, stressing the need to recruit the best available faculty.

He also suggested that all eligible applicants be called for interviews instead of extensive shortlisting and scrutiny at the initial stage. According to the Governor, this would ensure that eligible candidates do not feel excluded while providing interview panels with a wider pool of candidates.

Kambhampati also urged universities to pursue green certification, referring to the platinum certification received by Odisha Lok Bhavan from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). He said most universities already have substantial green cover and could secure certification with additional efforts.

The Governor sought details from universities pursuing accreditation and suggested a common tenure for vice-chancellors across state public universities.

“There are some universities where the vice-chancellor has a three-year tenure and some have four years. There should be a common tenure,” he said.

He further urged universities to adopt solar power on their campuses, either through their own initiatives or under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj endorsed the Governor’s suggestions and asked vice-chancellors to set timelines for completing the faculty recruitment process.

During the meeting, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabinda Agrawal made a presentation on the status of teaching faculty recruitment in state public universities

Odisha marks Wildlife Week with new conservation, research and ecotourism initiatives

October 3, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Odisha marked State Level Wildlife Week 2026 with a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening wildlife conservation, research, ecological awareness and responsible ecotourism in the state.

The celebration was held at the State Convention Centre, Loka Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, with Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia as the chief guest.

Speaking at the event, Singkhuntia said Wildlife Week was an opportunity not only to express appreciation for wildlife but also to strengthen the relationship between people and nature and renew the commitment to wildlife conservation.

He said Odisha had achieved several milestones in wildlife conservation over the past two years, driven by scientific approaches, modern technology, administrative measures and the contribution of forest personnel and local communities.

A major highlight of the programme was the launch of CM-GROW (Chief Minister’s Grant for Research on Odisha’s Wildlife), an initiative aimed at promoting research and strengthening the scientific foundation of wildlife conservation in the state.

An achievement video showcasing the work of the Wildlife Wing and a presentation on wildlife awareness activities conducted across Odisha during the week were also screened.

The programme also saw the release of coloured postcards and special covers, along with the online inauguration of several day-visit ecotourism destinations.

These included Peacock Valley and Nageswar Dam in Chandaka Wildlife Division, destinations in Similipal North Wildlife Division, Karakhol in Chilika Wildlife Division, Sambalpur Zoo and visitor amenities in Hirakud Wildlife Division.

Foundation stones were also laid virtually for upcoming ecotourism projects at Rajhans in Chilika Wildlife Division, Rani Duduma in Koraput Forest Division, Badmul in Mahanadi Wildlife Division and Pentha in Rajnagar Wildlife Division. New facilities at Nandankanan Zoological Park were also included among the upcoming initiatives.

The movie “The Biodiversity of Eastern Ghats” was launched at the event, highlighting the biodiversity and ecological significance of the Eastern Ghats. “The Intertidal Ecosystem of Bhitarkanika” was also released.

Several publications and technical documents were unveiled, including “Wildlife Odisha – 2026”, “The Long Walk to Similipal”, “Explore Odisha”, “Orchid Genera of Odisha in Pictures”, “Mahanadi re Ghadial ra Jibani”, “Tracking the Ocean Wanderers” and “Two Flamingos Two Journeys”.

The publications cover Odisha’s biodiversity, wildlife research, ecotourism potential and satellite telemetry studies of key species.

The celebration also included the distribution of sanction orders and cheques to people whose houses were completely damaged by wildlife.

The event was attended by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Principal Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, PCCF and HoFF K. Murugesan, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha, Additional PCCF (Wildlife) Manoj V. Nair, senior Forest Department officials, wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists

Abhishek, Tilak and spinners power India to Asian Games cricket gold

October 3, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Nisshin: India successfully defended their Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final in Nisshin on Saturday.

India posted 211 for 6 after explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, before restricting Pakistan to 192 for 6 despite a stunning 51-ball 96 from Hasan Nawaz.

The result gave India a 4-3 advantage over Pakistan in finals of major tournaments involving five or more teams across formats.

India made an aggressive start on a slow and turning pitch, with Abhishek Sharma taking the attack to Pakistan’s bowlers. He smashed 61 off 27 balls, including seven sixes, before being dismissed in the eighth over with India on 93 for 3.

Pakistan’s spinners subsequently tightened their lines and restricted India during the middle overs. India were 142 for 5 after 16 overs, but Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube accelerated in the closing stages.

The pair struck six sixes between them during the final four overs. Tilak finished unbeaten on 51 and helped India add 69 runs in the final four overs. India eventually reached 211 for 6.

Pakistan’s chase began with a 33-run opening stand before Washington Sundar dismissed Sahibzada Farhan. Pakistan soon slipped to 39 for 3, but Nawaz kept the chase alive.

After surviving an early chance, Nawaz launched an aggressive counterattack, hitting three sixes in his next five balls. He combined with Saim Ayub for an 87-run partnership from 48 balls, with Nawaz contributing 57 off 26 deliveries.

Ayub was dismissed by Shivam Dube in the 15th over, leaving Pakistan needing 86 runs from 35 balls with six wickets in hand.

India then turned to Jasprit Bumrah for the crucial 19th over. Pakistan needed 44 runs from the final two overs, but Bumrah conceded only 11, leaving the equation at 33 from the final six balls.

Dube bowled the final over and conceded a boundary and a wide early in the over. However, he followed it with a precise yorker that effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes. Nawaz hit another six but was dismissed off the final delivery, caught by Sanju Samson, leaving him four runs short of a century.

For India, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Dube took two wickets each. Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas was the pick of their bowlers with three wickets for 25 runs.

Brief Scores: India 211 for 6 (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51; Arafat Minhas 3-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43) beat Pakistan 192 for 6 (Hasan Nawaz 96; Axar Patel 2-29, Washington Sundar 2-29, Shivam Dube 2-33) by 19 runs.

Centre of Excellence for Classical Pali approved for Odisha

October 3, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received a significant boost in the preservation and promotion of India’s classical languages, with the Central University of Odisha in Koraput selected to host a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Pali.

The Ministry of Education, through its Department of Higher Education and Language Division, approved the establishment of five Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages in an Office Memorandum dated October 1. The centres will focus on academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the heritage of the respective languages.

Under the decision, the Central University of Odisha will host the centre for Classical Pali, while the Central University of Gujarat will host the centre for Classical Prakrit. Tezpur University in Assam will host the Centre of Excellence for Classical Assamese, while Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal has been selected for Classical Bengali. The Centre of Excellence for Classical Marathi will be established at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune.

The development has been welcomed by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who described the approval of the Classical Pali centre as a proud moment for the state and an important step towards preserving India’s linguistic heritage.

Majhi said the new centre at the Central University of Odisha would strengthen the study, preservation and promotion of Pali, which he described as a language deeply connected with India’s intellectual, spiritual and cultural traditions.

The CM also said the initiative would further strengthen Odisha’s contribution to preserving India’s civilisational knowledge and linguistic heritage. He congratulated the Central University of Odisha and everyone associated with the initiative.

The Ministry of Education said the five new Centres of Excellence are being established to strengthen academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the heritage associated with Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.

France student protests escalate as 400 schools close amid growing violence

October 3, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Paris: France’s high-school student protests have intensified, with demonstrations over education conditions increasingly turning into a wider public-order challenge.

More than 400 schools remained closed on Friday as authorities struggled to contain days of unrest nationwide. While many students continued to protest peacefully, clashes with police, barricades and fires were reported in some areas.

The protests began over concerns about France’s education system. Students say schools are facing overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teachers and problems replacing absent staff. They have also raised concerns about the poor condition of some school buildings and a lack of adequate resources.

In Strasbourg, eastern France, young protesters built barricades as police used tear gas. Demonstrations in cities including Lyon were comparatively more peaceful, according to cnn.com.

Student representatives have attempted to distance their movement from the violence. Following discussions with Education Minister Édouard Geffray, parents and school staff, representatives called for protests to continue without violence.

Nathanaël Combary of the Renouveau Lyceen student union said those involved in urban violence were not representing the students’ demands and that the student movement did not support the unrest.

The government, however, is increasingly treating the situation as a public-order issue.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin warned on Friday that the unrest could continue into the weekend. He said the situation had moved beyond student demonstrations and had become a matter of public order.

Authorities in several areas introduced restrictions on gatherings around schools that were closed because of the unrest. Despite those measures, tensions continued.

Darmanin also suggested that parents could be required to pay for damage caused by their children. The proposal was rejected by the far-left France Unbowed party, which described the idea as absurd.

The protests have also triggered a wider political confrontation in France.

President Emmanuel Macron criticized elected officials whom he believed were appearing to legitimize violence. Meanwhile, the hard-right National Rally accused its political opponents on the hard left of contributing to the unrest.

The political dispute comes as France approaches next year’s presidential election, adding further tension to the situation.

The protests are also expected to continue. Nationwide union-led demonstrations supporting the high-school students are planned for Tuesday.